Location: Negelle
Deadline: 16 Apr 2023
Job Description
About Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within now, and for the future.
Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004. In partnership with civil society organizations, academic institutions, private sector, and the government, Mercy Corps Ethiopia has reached more than five million Ethiopians with interventions to save lives and build secure livelihoods. Our programs emphasize market-driven solutions, reinforce social bonds, and help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Currently in six regional states – Afar, Amhara, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, and South Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), and in Dire Dawa Administration and the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa – Mercy Corps Ethiopia is driven by the mission to contribute the emergence of a peaceful, resilient, and prosperous Ethiopia which is inclusive of youth and women. Our strategic directions focus in promoting inclusive and dynamic markets; promoting peace and social cohesion through strengthening formal/informal governance structures and citizen engagement; improved natural resource governance; and integrated humanitarian response.
Position Title: Counselor
Duty Station: Gumi Eldelo Woreda of East Borena Zone
Open Position: 1
Program / Department Summary
The project is intended to provide life-saving multi-sector assistance to the IDPs, returnees and host communities most at-risk due to the escalating conflict in Gumi Eldelo Woredas of East Borena Zone and Wadera and Seba Boru woreda of Guji Zone , Oromia Region.
General Position Summary
The Counselor will be responsible for providing counselling for program participants distressed due to the displacement, drought crisis and other crisis affecting the community with particular emphasis on marginalized communities living at IDPs and Host community in collaboration with Health and Nutrition teams within the intervention woredas of Gumi Eldelo, Seba Boru and Wadera woredas of Oromia Region. Project focuses on provision of live saving health and Nutrition activities via diagnosing and assisting severely and moderately malnourished children as well as pregnant women and lactating mothers. All activities will be carried out in close collaboration with all Mercy Corps Program Teams, Government Counterparts, and Communities. Field Workers spends approximately 90% of their time traveling throughout the project sites.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Strategy & Vision
- Collaborate with other team member for effective integration between other services like Nutrition and health services.
- Collaborate with Local authorities and other partners to harmonize different efforts for better impact and sustainability.
- Able to learn and update his/ her information or knowledge to adapt the changing situation and context.
Program Management
- Work with individuals, groups, and communities to improve mental health.
- Encourage clients to discuss emotions and experiences.
- Examine issues including substance abuse, aging, bullying, anger management, careers, depression, relationships, self-image, stress, and suicide.
- Take a holistic (mind and body) approach to mental health care.
- Evaluate clients’ needs and create a custom treatment plan.
- Develop strategies for retention of psychosocial groups and evaluate performance of individual psychosocial groups.
- Conduct counseling of individual clients and encouraging forms of psychosocial support.
- Conduct awareness raising activities.
- Maintain a positive relationship with community health workers, VHT’s and other community-based groups to ensure they are involved in the activities of the community health and they play an active role in the referral pathway.
- Maintain a collaborative relationship with all organizations working in the context to facilitate referrals and joint activities, while upholding Mercy Corps’ standard in Emergency Health programming.
- Conduct regular follow-ups, compile daily & weekly reports, and attend weekly case review meetings.
- Collect data through Community Health management tools and systems.
- And any other duties that might be given by the supervisor in the line of duty
- Teach groups coping mechanisms related to stressful and traumatic they encounter
- Monitor client progress and adjust their treatment plan as needed.
- Coordinate with other healthcare providers, agencies and community resources in order to create a thorough treatment plan
- Maintain confidentiality of records relating to clients’ treatment.
- Encourage clients to express their feelings and discuss what is happening in their lives, and help them to develop insight into themselves and their relationships
- Guide clients in the development of skills and strategies for dealing with their problems.
- Prepare and maintain all required treatment records and report.
- Act as client advocates in order to coordinate required services or to resolve emergency problems in crisis situations.
- Meet with families, probation officers, police, and other interested parties in order to exchange necessary information during the treatment process.
- Refer patients, clients, or family members to community resources or to specialists as necessary.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling programs and clients’ progress in resolving identified problems and moving towards defined objectives.
Team Management
- Provide technical guidance for other team members on Mental health and psychosocial support
- Work very closely other MC teams to strengthen the MHPSS services at all levels
- Collaborate with other staff members to perform clinical assessments and develop treatment plans.
- Provided formal and on job training and supportive supervision for Mercy corps woreda level staffs and government health workers.
Influence & Representation
- Train and support community volunteers and make sure they transmit/convey messages clearly to the community
- Creates and maintain relationship with local health and other authorities to link services with the existing health structure smoothly,
- Upholds the image and values of Mercy Corps at all times,
Organizational Learning
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
Accountability to Beneficiaries
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to implement community accountability reporting Mechanism (CARM) effectively
- Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)
- Understand and aware GDI related priorities of the country office and contribute for the
realization of priorities (continually work to understand and be aware of the gender diversity and inclusion priorities of the country office and contribute in the execution)
- Promote gender equal and inclusive workplace culture in a day-to-day interaction with a team member, partners and program participants.
Security
- Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
- Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
Safeguarding & Ethics
- Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to theInteragency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.
Knowledge and Experience
· BSC in Psychiatry, Psychology, sociology, Public health or Nursing, and related fields with Minimum five years working experience in NGOs environment as MHNT out of which three years in Mental Health Counseling.
· Solid technical skill on mental health and psychosocial support and on how to reduce the impact of mental distress in an individual or families.
· Knowledge and experience on mental health and psychosocial support
· Demonstrated skills in delivering training/ orientation other teams on MHPSS
· Ability to work in the community and able to face challenges.
· Strong computer (search Microsoft skills), and interpersonal skills.
· Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
· Good command in written and spoken English and Local language (Afaan Oromo is mandatory).
· Good human relation skills.
· Willingness to work under pressure and extra hours.
Success Factors
· Willingness and capacity to be flexible and accommodating when faced with difficult and frustrating working conditions like long distance.
· Good interpersonal and communication skills
· Experience in closely working with regional, Zonal and Woreda Health line bureaus.
· Ability to prepare program reports.
· Communication skill, good human relations
All applications submitted electronically include a CV, three references, and all relevant official documents. Applications will not be retained for future recruitment efforts. To ensure fairness to all applicant’s personal inquiries are not permitted.
Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called.
“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”
DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 16 April 2023/ 4:00 PM